Too Soon For Hulk Smash?

It's been five years since the release of Ang Lee's film version of everyone favorite comic book green guy, The Incredible Hulk and I'm inclined to say, "Ang, Ang, he's our man...if he can't do it, no one can." Well guess what, the Oscar winning director couldn't make a viable film out of the Hulk character, so if such an able director isn't able to make movie magic...can anyone?" Enter Louis Leterrier, whose previous notable directorial efforts include The Transporter and The Transporter 2, to try and fix or even create a franchise for the muscular grass toned comic book hero with sad walking away music. I'm of the school that says this is not possible. The Hulk just doesn't seem like a deep enough character. Sure having Ed Norton playing the title role does not hurt but seeing a big CGI green guy yelling "HULK SMASH!" just hasn't made my list of things to do in five years and I'm not inclined to do so again. The problem lies in the depth of the actual super-hero. I never really thought there was anything special about a superhero that gets really big and green and needs anger management classes. Though I was a fan of the TV show, it was more for the mere ridiculousness of seeing Lou Ferrigno in a bad
paint job and cut-off shorts...and of course the walking away music. So there are two questions that remain in regards to this weekend's release of the latest Incredible Hulk installment; first, can they pull it off? Secondly, will anyone care? Perhaps the 2nd question is the most important. After all if a tree falls in the woods and the Incredible Hulk debuts in theaters and no one is there to see it, does it actually matter? All negativity aside, I think The Incredible Hulk will get a sizable audience this weekend. There are enough superhero fanatics to give this franchise a second chance. The question remains will they walk into the theater with that glint in their eye saying, "don't make me waste $12 on this movie...you wouldn't like me when I waste $12 on a movie". By the second or third act most movie theaters in the country could be in ruins.

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